SANTA CLARA -- Coach Jim Harbaugh downplayed Monday what emerged as the 49ers' biggest concern during their bye week: linebacker Aldon Smith's latest off-field incident, if there even was one.

Smith took to Twitter last Thursday to deny social-media reports that he had been attacked early that morning at a restaurant in Columbia, Mo.

"What Aldon said to us was the same as what he said publicly," Harbaugh said Monday. "Also, you tend to take a man at his word. I don't think there's anything more to add."

Smith, a University of Missouri product, has found himself in a few precarious situations this year, though not necessarily at his own choosing. He was a passenger in a one-car accident two days before the 49ers' home opener in September, when he sustained a cut above his eye.

During the summer, Smith got stabbed while allegedly breaking up a fight outside a party at his San Jose house. Shortly after the 49ers' season ended in the NFC Championship game, Smith was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving in Miami Beach, Fla.

Regarding Smith's potential involvement in the Thursday incident that drew a police response, Harbaugh replied: "I personally tend not to believe everything I read on the Internet."

Smith spoke with general manager Trent Baalke about the alleged incident, Harbaugh noted.

Coming off the bye week, Harbaugh is "excited" about the 49ers' prospects heading into what he calls "the second half of the campaign." At 6-2, the 49ers hold a 1﻿1/2-game lead in the NFC West over the Seattle Seahawks.

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Players used their six-day break to scatter all over the map: from Hawaii to Florida to Disneyland to Rand, W.Va. Coaches, however, stayed at the facility Tuesday through Friday to scout and scheme for the St. Louis Rams' visit Sunday to Candlestick Park.

The "usual suspects" who Harbaugh said worked out at the facility during the bye were: Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, Randy Moss, Alex Smith, "etc." Harbaugh took Saturday and Sunday off to spend time with his wife and kids, which included a train ride and a toy store visit.

The Rams are a "much healthier team" than last year's edition that got swept in their two meetings with the 49ers, Harbaugh said. Quarterback Sam Bradford did not play in either game because of an ankle injury, but he has "all the things you look for from a top-notch quarterback," Harbaugh added.

The 49ers did not play on the past three Sundays. The last time that happened: the end of the 1994 season. Their final two regular-season games were on a Saturday and Monday, then after a bye week as the top seed, their playoff opener was on a Saturday as they launched their last drive to the Super Bowl.

Harbaugh caught highlights of Andrew Luck's 433-yard, two-touchdown performance Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts improved to 5-3 with a 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins. Harbaugh said of his former Stanford quarterback: "He's done great. No surprise."

While driving first baseman Brandon Belt in the Giants' championship parade Wednesday, Harbaugh said the crowd greeted him with "some waving, pointing and, 'Who's got it better than us?' "

Pro Bowl voting is under way at NFL.com for fans. Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are the 49ers' candidates at wide receiver, while neither Moss nor Kyle Williams made the ballot. Tight end Delanie Walker is listed as a fullback.

With no candidates at defensive end, the 49ers instead list defensive tackle as the position for Justin Smith, Ray McDonald and Sopoaga. Ted Ginn Jr. is the 49ers' designated kick returner and C.J. Spillman their special-teams candidate.